Hatch should be exposed to political process

Orrin has grown so old, rich and cocky that he no longer believes he should honor tradition and defend his party's policies and his actions. While he finally agreed to two debates with Scott Howell, that's not nearly enough. When I ran against Bob Bennett in 2004, we made 11 joint appearances and had six debates. Anyone interested could get the benefit of our presentations, positions and have critical questions answered through the debates.

That's how our electoral process works, and I respect Bob for his willingness to participate in the process.

Orrin has had to spend a lot of money changing his stripes and avoiding hard questions. Orrin is old and not as capable as he once was. He also has changed his positions on critical issues and seeks to rewrite his own past. I remember reading his book some years ago and thinking he had a very enlightened position regarding the obtaining and use of stem cells. What about the great work he did with Teddy Kennedy on education?

Now he would no longer embrace such positions. He should be held accountable for this. What our system needs is openness, honesty and a thorough vetting of every politician wanting to prolong his time at the public trough. Orrin is very well to do and is addicted to Washington. That's his first priority. What we need are fresh ideas, a good attitude toward problem solving, real respect for others and their ideas and progress in working out solutions. The opponent is not always wrong, and other ideas must be given a fair chance

Orrin is stuck with only one issue: survival at all cost, and it does cost a bundle in both money and ideas. Take a look at his donor list if you want a lesson in American politics and how it has been corrupted. We should probably limit fundraising to one's home state but that, no doubt, would be unconstitutional under "Citizens United." If ever we have needed the cleansing and revealing light of open debate on important issues, it is now.

What about health care, Social Security, Medicare and military spending? Surely the senator has time in his pressing schedule of obstruction to give the citizens of Utah what they need: a comprehensive look at who he is and what he believes this year, along with his solutions to ending this recession. It would be telling to see if he can think on his feet and articulate positions without a teleprompter.

If politicians don't have something more to offer than an ability to raise and spend money, then we are doomed as a country. That brings me to Orrin's opponent, Scott Howell. I've known Scott for sometime during my lifelong career in Utah. He brings a business background - former IBM executive - and passion. Scott is brimming with information and ideas for moving this country into the future and regaining economic strength and respect.

Political campaigns should be a test of ideas, knowledge, plans and competence, not a contest of fund raising prowess, bluster and evasion.

Paul Van Dam is a former Utah attorney general.

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Hatch should be exposed to political process

Orrin has grown so old, rich and cocky that he no longer believes he should honor tradition and defend his party's policies and his actions. While he finally agreed to two debates with Scott Howell,